Darlene Superville: Michelle Obama says 54 kids who earned a trip to the White House by winning a nationwide recipe contest are showing how talented, creative and brilliant young people can be. It’s the second year the first lady has hosted the kids’ “state dinner.”

The contest for 8- to 12-year-olds is sponsored by the Epicurious food website and the departments of Agriculture and Education. It drew a batch of more than 1,300 entries that were whittled to 54 winners — one from each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

Mrs. Obama singled out a few of the champion culinary creations during Tuesday’s meal, including Confetti Peanut Ginger Party Pasta from Missouri, Pan-seared Mississippi Catfish on a Bed of River Rice and Slam Dunk Veggie Burger from Texas.

President Barack Obama also made an unannounced appearance at the dinner in the White House East Room. He told the junior chefs they are showing that food can be both healthy and fun.

President Barack Obama smiles with Makenna Hurd of Mascot, Tennessee, and Noah Koch of Waterville, Maine, during the second annual ‘Kids’ State Dinner’, in the East Room of the White House July 9, 2013 in Washington DC.

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama kiss each other at the second annual “Kids’ State Dinner”, to honor the winners of a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches, at the White House.

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First Lady Michelle Obama joins in a wave during the Kids’ State Dinner

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Eun Kyung Kim: The White House hosted a “state dinner” on Tuesday for 54 junior chefs whose culinary creations earned them a spot as a guest of honor at the executive mansion. First lady Michelle Obama hosted the gathering, which was actually a luncheon featuring winning dishes submitted for the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.

More than 1,300 entries were submitted in the contest. Winning creations included salmon fried rice, from 10-year-old Audrey Russell of Oregon, and hidden veggie lasagna from Owen Kerkvliet. The 9-year-old from South Dakota said he and his mom came up with the dish based on his aversion to vegetables he can see on his plate.

All of the items will be featured in a cookbook released by Epicurious.com, whose editor in chief, Tanya Steel, came up with the idea for the challenge and pitched it to the White House.

Pres. Obama gets a hug from Makenna Hurd, age 9, from Mascot, Tennessee.

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WLBR: A Knox Couny student with a penchant for baking used her talents to get a ticket to the White House and a special hug from President Obama! Tuesday was the second annual Kids’ State Dinner at the White House. This year, the First Lady invited 54 winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, along with their parent or guardian to the East Room for a special meal, music, remarks from the First Lady, and a surprise visit from the Commander in Chief!

Among those kids Makenna Anne Hurd, a second grader at East Knox Elementary School. She won for her all-bran muffin recipe called “Makenna’s Bodacious Banana Muffins.”

Sam Kass was talking to one kid and he ask the kid what was it like to meet the First Lady? And what did he say to her? The kid said he told her that his teacher said that she was the best First Lady ever.

Something clicked with me a few months ago and I’m eating a lot more fruits and veggies. Yogurt for my stomach. Seeds, beans. I saw a doctor on PBS who said, “eat at least these things every day and I don’t care what you eat the rest of the day.” Lo and behold, a piece of chicken or fish in addition to the good stuff, and I’m satisfied. And if I want something ‘naughty’, I have it and then go back to the good stuff.

I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I felt sick all the time, chalked it up to old age at 63. My stomach has cleared up, my mind is functioning better and I no longer feel sick. Because I’m putting the right food in my body. I’m losing weight ever so slowly, but at my age it’s more about my health than my vanity.

Exercising regularly is next. Pain issues make it difficult to find what works for me, but I’m making progress.

‘Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’

HI Layla, I’m just a TODlurker…but I pop up every so often. Just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss, and wishing you, and your loved ones all the best.
Having a sense of humor is so important during times like this, because it reminds us that we, ourselves, are still here. Keep smiling. 🙂

Listening to the House debates. The Republicans are despicable. They want to strip all water and energy funding in an effort to stop President Obama’s energy program. They are willing to sabotage the entire nation, just to defeat one man.

IMHO The First Lady acts less than a Queen, than any other First Lady than I can remember. In my memory most of the previous ones tended to act like they were some sort of royalty treating it’s citizens like subjects.

I remember a local news story during the DNC convention in 2008. The Dem’s were going to put together baskets of stuff and food for the military. The social director (for lack of a better term) was going to go get Michelle around 10:00 a.m. for what she thought would no more than a photo op, to find Michelle downstairs, filling baskets at 6:30 a.m., urging everyone to get the hell to work.

Son of a bitch, I’m pissed: IL legislative over-rode Quinn’s amendatory veto of the concealed carry law that he made saner and safer.

Charlie Pierce this morning on Stephanie Miller made an important point: we cannot assume that anything is safe. No law, no right. We have to stay constantly vigilant. I cannot believe the things I’m fighting for now – I fought for these things 40+ years ago.

The law as approved by the Legislature permits anyone with a Firearm Owner’s Identification card who has passed a background check and undergone gun-safety training of 16 hours – longest of any state – to obtain a concealed-carry permit for $150.
The Illinois State Police would have six months to set up a system to start accepting applications. Spokeswoman Monique Bond said police expect 300,000 applications in the first year.

Quinn added some sane measures (you’re allowed to amend a veto, and then put it up for a vote in IL) forbid guns in establishments that serve alcohol. Limit gun owners to carrying one weapon and restore local governments’ ability to ban assault weapons. And no more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

There was a court-mandated deadline of July 9 that IL had to have a concealed carry law. What the eff is happening in this country? Guns everywhere, virtually by court mandate, but a woman has to prove to the likes of Rick Perry that she has a right to an abortion or health services for women.

It’s insanity. Sickens me. This is how our country responds to the Sandy Hook tragedy and all the increasing daily gun violence everywhere? WTF is wrong with people? This country is nuts. Unique in the world with the proliferation of gun nuts. Sick.

I couldn’t remember all of Quinn’s amendatory conditions so I did a search. I swear, it was a google page-ful of RW b.s. from all over the state. It was disgusting. And terrifying.

Used to be that law enforcement was at the forefront of these fights, but God forbid they should work with the black President. We are losing the war on the streets, because of so many guns and so little law to get them off the streets.

And thanks, Bush, for lowering the threshold for cannon fodder and allowing gang members in the military to fight your unnecessary wars. They came back armed to the teeth and with connections on how to get more. I’m pissed.

Rand Paul has as much exposure as any Republican and people listen to him, but I cannot envision under any circumstances his being elected POTUS. He lies, has no real understanding of the issues, and seems to believe the libertarian rubbish. He even praised Snowden at one point. A mainline Republican could never accept his views on foreign policy and national defense. But I have no clue who will be their 2016 candidate.

Could not wrap my head around the fact that Americans actually VOTED for R-money last year.

Aside from his abhorent personal behavior (Seamus, taunting his kids, draft dodging, etc.) that displayed a lack of empathy (he seemed to be the complete opposite of his principled father) his gaffes and Romnoid behavior with foreign countries would make anyone shudder.

The fact that men (and I use that term loosely) are able to not have any responsibility in a resulted pregnancy has ALWAYS pissed me off. Funny, because last time I checked, women couldn’t get pregnant by themselves!!

Thanks UT for all these beautiful pics and mementos of the 2nd annual WH Kids’ State Dinner. 🙂 In the pic right below the one where PBO & FLOTUS are about to kiss, you will see a very, very proud papa watching as his son is about to snap a photo of PBO! 🙂 🙂 I can just imagine what’s going through the boy and his Dad’s minds!

Here’s why Harry won’t go nucLear, they say if they get in charge they will ram yucca mountain approval-

When Harry Reid threatened to go nuclear this is what Republicans threatened to do in retaliation:

“Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), a former member of the GOP leadership close to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has assembled an agenda Republicans would pursue with the nuclear option if they retake control of the upper chamber.

It includes repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act, converting all federal education spending into school vouchers and scholarships to middle-income and low-income children, opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling and repealing the estate tax.

“Sen. Reid is an able and experienced leader. He knows that if Democrats figure out a way to do anything they want with 51 votes, Republicans can figure that out too. And if we’re in charge, we’ll do it.

They are focusing their threat squarely on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) by warning the nuclear option could be used to ram through legislation to resume construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada, a project he opposes.

a. Food: not everyone eats tacos and burritos; b. Music: not everyone dances to salsa;
c. Dress: not everyone wears a sombrero;
d. Mexicans (lower education level, some may be undocumented);
e. Cubans (Political refugees, legal status, higher education level); and
f. They may say ‘OK, OK’ and pretend to understand, when they do not, just to save face.